Baby/Toddler Lap Time (Ukulele Debut!), 6/22/12

On Friday morning, I debuted my ukulele at story time. After much debate about what to play and when, I decided to just do two songs right at the beginning of the session and then do the rest of story time the normal way.

Opening Song (with ukulele): Hello, how are you?
I played the first two verses on the ukulele, then did the three action verses a cappella and repeated the first verse with the ukulele. The tune is Skip To My Lou, the chords for which can be found here. (Those are in the key of C, I like to sing in the key of A, so I transposed everything.)

Song (with ukulele): Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
I played the entire song through twice. I play this one in A as well, but here it is in C.


The group was largely unfazed by the introduction of the ukulele. I brought a music stand with me, because I thought I might get nervous and forget the chords, and it clearly irritated someone, since they had moved it into a corner by the time I got into the room.  A couple of the nannies seemed more engaged than usual, but only one grandparent commented at all, and it was to tell me the instrument was beautiful. I will definitely be trying again tomorrow (Tuesday) to see if that crowd likes it any better.

Book: Higher, Higher by Leslie Patricelli (2009)

Song: Here We Go Up, Up, Up
I changed this song so it could be used as both an action rhyme and a simple fingerplay. The tune is Here We Go Looby Loo.

Here we go up, up, up (hands up)

Here we go down, down, down (reach for the ground)

Here we go shake, shake, shake (shake hands)

Here we go round and round (roll hands, or turn around)

Book: I Want to be An Astronaut by Byron Barton (1988)

Flannel Board Song: Five Astronauts Went Up in Space
I have to say, this is getting old already. I'm not doing it this coming week.  I would like to somehow make use of the fact that the astronauts have different colored suits, so I might have to write a new song.

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby
This is my new favorite. 

Song: I'm a Little Teapot

Book: Hush, Little Baby by Shari Halpern (1997)

Song: Moon, Moon, Moon
The build-up to the punchline at the end of this song (that the moon looks like a pizza pie) is so slow-going, but the payoff is great every single time. I love giggling three year olds! 

Book: Moonlight by Helen V. Griffith, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Oh, Friday session, you are so unkind to the fourth book. I love this story, and the illustrations are gorgeous, but I was pushing it asking them to listen to four books, even though I sang the third one. I am going to try using this book again,  definitely, but maybe with a more receptive crowd.

Song: Chickadee 

Song with Puppets: Goodnight by the Laurie Berkner Band
This song is a secret weapon. I sing it a cappella, because all my story times are a cappella now, and by the end of the first phrase, the room falls silent. I have had some people compliment my singing, so maybe that is part of it, but I really think it's the concept and tune of the song that just grab people unexpectedly. 

Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This